| Mountain and Dragon Worship Shamanism at Geumryong-am / Golden Dragon Hermitage |
Geumryong-am is a small but dramatically-sited Buddhist temple about a mile behind Shinwon-sa, up a narrow
stream-gorge. There's a high waterfall and plenty of exposed rock; the Heavenly-King Peak of Rooster-Dragon
Mountain can be seen at the distant end of the gorge. These photos were taken on the day of the Third Full
Moon of 2001, but the kind of mountain-worshipping Korean Shamanism shown above is going on at this little
temple almost any day or night of the year -- it's a famous site for San-shin and Yong-wang powers.
stream-gorge. There's a high waterfall and plenty of exposed rock; the Heavenly-King Peak of Rooster-Dragon
Mountain can be seen at the distant end of the gorge. These photos were taken on the day of the Third Full
Moon of 2001, but the kind of mountain-worshipping Korean Shamanism shown above is going on at this little
temple almost any day or night of the year -- it's a famous site for San-shin and Yong-wang powers.
The unique and wonderful
Mountain-spirit Painting in
the San-shin Shrine of
Golden Dragon Hermitage.
A husband-and-wife team is
depicted, each with their
own two dongja attendants
and tiger (and a 3rd baby
tiger being fed by a tiny
attendant!). Yin-yang
polarities abound in this
mandala -- including that the
"Holy Mother San-shin"
holds a ginseng root (yang)
and leaf-fan (yin) while the
"Divine Father San-shin"
holds a dragon-head staff
(yang) and bullocho
mushroom sprigs (yin)...
Mountain-spirit Painting in
the San-shin Shrine of
Golden Dragon Hermitage.
A husband-and-wife team is
depicted, each with their
own two dongja attendants
and tiger (and a 3rd baby
tiger being fed by a tiny
attendant!). Yin-yang
polarities abound in this
mandala -- including that the
"Holy Mother San-shin"
holds a ginseng root (yang)
and leaf-fan (yin) while the
"Divine Father San-shin"
holds a dragon-head staff
(yang) and bullocho
mushroom sprigs (yin)...
The excellent matching "Lonely Saint" icon, enshrined
in the Main Hall; and the Bodhisattva of Compassion
riding cross-legged on, yes, a Golden Dragon, on the
outside wall of the Main Hall.
in the Main Hall; and the Bodhisattva of Compassion
riding cross-legged on, yes, a Golden Dragon, on the
outside wall of the Main Hall.
| an elderly Mudang [Korean Shaman] chants to the San-shin, then lights prayer-papers on fire and releases them flying upwards towards "Heaven". |